Dose determination on tooth enamel fragments from two human fossils

The ESR dose values of two human tooth enamel fragments were measured in 10 degrees steps with an automated goniometer. ESR spectra were deconvoluted using four Gaussian peaks. The central region of the spectra is interfered with by at least one additional line which yields significantly lower dose values than the central, apparently axial region. There is a clear relation ship between dose and width of the deconvoluted axial peaks which is attrib utable to incomplete separation between the axial and interfering peaks. A simple model is presented that coherently explains all observations. We con clude that deconvolution is necessary for the estimation of the most likely dose value of enamel pieces. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights res erved.